Oh, the Places You'll Go!
August 9, 2008
Lynn Murray
United Congregational Church of Westerly
United Church of Christ
“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
If you’ve read to a child in the last 18 years, you’ll probably recognize the words of the late, great Dr. Seuss in Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Although Theodore Seuss Geisel, or Dr. Seuss to us, did not consider himself to be an overtly religious man, some have attributed theological significance to his works.
Leave it to adults to analyze the whimsical words of a children’s book and turn it into a life message, but Rev. Marcia Cham, pastor of Union Congregational UCC in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, has actually developed a religious education series on Seuss for use in her parish, and claims that, “Geisel’s books are a teaching device similar to Jesus, because they are lessons that sneak up on you – and say, ‘This is reality, folks,’ and I think that’s what Jesus is trying to say.”
While children love the silly, rhyming text and animated illustrations of this book, when we delve a little deeper, we can understand how Oh, the Places You’ll Go! quite accurately depicts life’s journey. Whether a child is going off to kindergarten for the first time, or a teenager is leaving for college, a young adult is getting married, or someone is venturing into a career change, Seuss’s words mirror the journey.
According to Seuss, God has armed us with all the tools we’ll need: brains, the ability to make choices, and the knowledge of right and wrong. He talks about the ups and downs, the highs and lows, we all encounter on our life journey: the Bang-ups and Hang-ups and being left in a Lurch, the unpleasant Bumps and Slumps, games you can’t win, and being alone or scared. I’m sure that each one of us, not matter how young or old, can recall specific instances in our lives that fit each of these descriptions.
In his second letter to Timothy, which we heard earlier, St. Paul gave his young friend wise advice to guide his life:
“Always be steady, endure suffering to do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.”
The simplicity of Paul’s words helps us make sense of our own lives and the many practical moves needed to determine our work and calling. “Always be steady.” The word steady was used in first-century Greek primarily to describe the balance and self-restraint of an athlete, which meant avoid careless moves that use up our energy. That reminds me of one of my own favorite sayings, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Now Paul’s next words of advice: “Endure suffering to do the work of the evangelist.” Paul reminds Timothy that in the midst of every great adventure and challenge is suffering – something you put up with. You neither seek it nor dwell on it. Because Timothy is a Christian, Paul says that everything Timothy does should point to and share with others God’s grace and faithfulness fulfilled in Jesus.
And Paul’s final advice: “Fulfill your ministry.” Like each of us, Timothy is on a journey, his journey. No two people have identical experiences, and each of us must individually discover his or her own ministry gifts and live through and with that ministry. The people who come alongside – as St. Paul came alongside Timothy – help us find our giftedness. This is a process that happens enroute during our lifetime journey, and it progresses through phases, through growth spurts, disappointments, rediscoveries, successes, and grateful surprises. Nothing changes the fact that the ministry is ours to fulfill, and we are thankful for those at our side for the journey, most of all for Jesus, our friend and our companion for the entire journey.
Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic pro basketball team, devout Christian, and author, wrote a book about the life of Christ. In a chapter titled, “How to Endure Like Jesus,” Williams’ thoughts are similar to those of St. Paul. He quotes German theologian Otto Dibelius, a leader of the anti-Nazi resistance movement in World War II: “God does not lead his children around hardship, but leads them straight through hardship. But He leads! And amidst the hardship, He is nearer to them than ever before.” That is a striking way to put it. Not around hardship but straight through it.
Life is a journey for all of us, and that journey is not always easy. There are hard days and difficult nights and sometimes there are weeks and months and years where the road seems to lead from one hardship to another. No one gets a free ride, and no one is exempt from the troubles of the world.
Reverend Kathleen is on one of those months-long difficult roads right now. Her journey is one toward healing, patience, and forgiveness. The destination is in sight, though maybe at a distance, and the view there is a good one, but there will be many bumps, detours, and uphill climbs, some evening off along the way, and hopefully increased amounts of coasting as time goes on. May God be ever nearer to her along the way.
I think we, as a church, are on a similar journey right alongside Reverend Kathleen. Unlike a journey in a car, where we would have a map and an owner’s manual, this is uncharted territory for us. We would do well to take Paul’s advice: “Always be steady, endure suffering to do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” May we set an example for others, and as we break new ground, may we always remember our foundation, and work toward greater strength. And may God be with us, as a church, as well.
I’ve been on a bit of a journey myself lately. You have probably heard the phrase, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” I take that to mean, make the best out of a bad situation. Life handed me a lemon a few months ago...a big one. You know, when your doctor uses those words that send shock and panic and fear into every ounce of your being, and it finally sinks in that she’s talking about you. Believe me, the last think I could think about was making lemonade, and even though I consider myself to be an optimist, I couldn’t see how there could possibly be any good in this situation. All I could do was try to figure out how to get through each day. And I confess that the classic, “Why me?” thought came into my head. But the response was almost immediate: “Me, so that maybe someone else would be spared.”
There are two things I became certain of during this time. One, God did not do this to me. It’s one of those random things that happen, seemingly without reason. And I knew I wasn’t alone. God gave me the strength to get through each day. My family was there to surround me with their love and support every step of the way. My co-workers got me through each day until school was out, and even my difficult eighth graders somehow figured out that it wasn’t a good time to push my buttons. Then there was the surprising, spontaneous mini-support group that formed each morning as we each waited for our appointments. It was made up of people who are walking in my same shoes, whose names I don’t even know, who I actually miss now that I no longer meet them each day, but sometimes think about at 8:00am. They’re some of the most courageous and compassionate people I’ve ever known. Then, there is each of you, who have journeyed with me. The cards, the emails, the calls, the cards, the visits, the meals, the cards, coming home on a red-letter day to find yellow ribbons tied around my mailbox and trees…did I mention the cards? On a visit with Rev. Kathleen, she told me that her mail carrier finally rang her doorbell and asked what had happened to her that would explain all the cards he was bringing her. She mentioned more recently that there had only been one day since her accident that she didn’t receive a card. We must be slipping. Yeah, it was like that for me, too.
I don’t think there was a reason I was chosen for this journey, not that I can think of anyway. But maybe there is a purpose. I’ve decided my purpose is to tell my story to anyone who will listen, in the hopes that other people, or maybe just one, might make that doctor’s appointment they’ve been putting off because it’s inconvenient, or so that other people, or maybe just one, might schedule that test or screening they’ve been avoiding because it’s uncomfortable or embarrassing, or so that other people, or maybe just one, will have an early diagnosis and beat this thing, like I will. Can you taste the lemonade yet? I can.
Amen.
Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. Random House, c1990